Department for Transport

Tyne and Wear Metro: Finance

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to paragraph 3 (d)(a) of the North East Devolution Agreement, what funds the Government will provide for phase 2 of the Metro.

Andrew Jones: The Spending Review 2015, as announced last week by my Right Honourable Friend, The Chancellor of the Exchequer, confirmed that a total of £120m has been allocated by way of capital grant, for the five year period 2016-2017 to 2020-2021, for Metro reinvigoration phase 2.This represents total central government funding of £317m to support asset renewals on the Metro since 2010 and will allow Nexus to plan with certainty its programme of works over the next five years.

Electric Vehicles: Grants

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what Government spending was on the Plug-in car grant in each of the last five years; and what estimate his Department has made of Government spending on that grant in each of the last five years.

Andrew Jones: The plug-in car grant awards consumers a discount on the cost of a new ultra low emission vehicle. It has proved successful in growing the UK’s early market for ultra low emission vehicles, which is now the largest in the EU and the fourth largest in the world. The Government intends that nearly all cars and vans will be zero emission by 2050.Government spending on the plug-in car grant in each of the last financial years was as follows:2010/11 £1m2011/12 £4.5m2012/13 £11m2013/14 £20.5m2014/15 £90.5mThe plug-in car grant is guaranteed to continue at £5,000 per vehicle until February 2016. The Chancellor announced at Spending Review 2015 that more than £600m will be spent on support for ultra low emission vehicles in the five years from 2015 to 2020. This funding means the grants can remain for several years after February, as long as there is a demonstrable market need. Future grant levels will be announced shortly.

Great Western Railway Line: Rolling Stock

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the additional costs to retro-fit the Great Western Inter-City Express Programme fleet of electric trains with diesel engines.

Claire Perry: The Department is actively looking at a range of commercial and technical options to ensure passenger benefits are delivered on time. We have a commercially confidential estimate however no decisions have been taken on IEP conversion.

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency: Industrial Disputes

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and test staff representatives in order to seek a resolution of the industrial disputes at that Agency.

Andrew Jones: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) regrets the current industrial action, which is focussed on a modernised employment contract, and the effect it is having on its customers. DVSA has kept dialogue open with the Public and Commercial Services and Prospect unions. Senior DVSA managers have made themselves available for talks, but the unions set unacceptable preconditions to talks, so they could not take place.DVSA is seeking to come to an agreement on acceptable conditions for talks, seeking the help of Acas on 2 December to do this.

Driving Instruction: Standards

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department (a) holds and (b) publishes on the rating and qualifications of driving instructors.

Andrew Jones: Approved Driving Instructors (ADI) are required to successfully pass a three part qualification process to gain access to the Register of Approved Driving Instructors and to periodically undergo further reassessment, through a standards check, to demonstrate that they have maintained the minimum level of instructional ability to remain on the register.All of these assessments are conducted by specially trained Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) examiners; the Agency does not hold any information about external qualifications attained by instructors.Instructors are graded following the standards check based upon their level of performance. Whilst the overall number of ADIs at each grade is published on a quarterly basis, the Agency has never routinely published the grading of individual instructors.DVSA is, however, taking steps to allow ADIs to voluntarily publish their grading through its on-line Find Your Nearest instructor facility on GOV.UK.DVSA is also in discussion with the ADI National Association Strategic Partnership with regards the development of an earned recognition scheme, the principle being that instructors which voluntarily demonstrate compliance with standards would earn recognition from the Agency and benefit from reduced oversight and reassessment.As part of this, DVSA is also exploring what additional information about instructors could be published to enable consumers to make a more informed choice as to which ADI best meets their learning needs.

Driving Instruction: Standards

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reasons his Department no longer publishes information on the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency's rating of driving instructors; and if he will take steps to make such information routinely available.

Andrew Jones: Approved Driving Instructors (ADI) are required to successfully pass a three part qualification process to gain access to the Register of Approved Driving Instructors. They are also required to periodically undergo further reassessment, through a standards check, to demonstrate that they have maintained the minimum level of instructional ability to remain on the register. ADIs are graded following the standards check, based upon their level of performance. Whilst the overall number of ADIs at each grade is published on a quarterly basis, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has never routinely published the grading of individual instructors. DVSA is, however, taking steps to allow ADIs to voluntarily publish their grading through its on-line Find Your Nearest instructor facility on GOV.UK.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Devolution: North East

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 42 of the North East Devolution Agreement, what the composition of the proposed Steering Group will be; what the process of escalation referred to will be; and what plans he has to report on the activities of the Steering Group to Parliament on an annual or quarterly basis.

James Wharton: My officials are working closely with representatives of the North East Combined Authority to ensure that robust implementation arrangements for the North East Devolution Deal are in place. Aspects of monitoring, including a steering group, are still subject to ongoing discussions, and once agreed will form part of the North East Combined Authority’s Implementation Plan.The Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill includes provision for the Secretary of State to provide an Annual Report to both Houses of Parliament on areas of the country where agreements have been reached, as soon as practicable after 31 March each year.

Devolution: North East

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 40 of the North East Devolution Agreement, what progress he has made on developing an agreed implementation, monitoring and evaluation plan for evaluating the impact of north east devolution.

James Wharton: Implementation, monitoring, and evaluation are key parts of any Devolution Deal, and my officials are working closely with representatives of the North East Combined Authority to ensure that we have robust arrangements in place.

Social Services: Finance

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 1.242 of the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015, whether the Government carried out an equality impact assessment on the policy to allow local authorities to raise council tax by two per cent to fund adult social care.

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 1.242 of the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015, what estimate he has made of the amount that the two per cent precept for adult social care would raise for each local authority if used fully.

Mr Marcus Jones: The Spending Review set out that, if fully used, the additional council tax flexibility could raise nearly £2 billion a year by 2019-20. We will set out further details alongside the provisional local government finance settlement later this month, including an equality impact assesment in the New Year.

Homelessness

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of how many and what proportion of homeless people (a) are ex-service personnel, (b) have mental health problems and (c) identify as LGBT.

Mr Marcus Jones: The information requested is not held centrally.

Right to Buy Scheme

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much his Department has spent on advertising the Right to Buy scheme in each month of 2015.

Brandon Lewis: My Department has run two targeted campaign bursts during 2015 to make sure eligible council and housing association tenants are aware of their opportunity to buy their home at a discount, through the Right to Buy scheme and to give them up-to-date information on changes to the discount rates and eligibility criteria.We are currently in the middle of a burst of the campaign so figures for October and November are provisional and may not reflect all costs incurred. The monthly breakdown of invoiced expenditure for 2015 is:January - £5,100February - £68,600March - £299,300 April - £0 May - £100 June - £0July - £200 August - £600 September - £64,700 October - £155,000 November - £171,200

Regeneration: Essex

Mr Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2015 to Question 11444, when the regeneration strategy for Jaywick will be fully implemented; and if his Department will (a) provide additional resources to improve the (i) standard of housing and (ii) quality of life and (b) liberalise planning rules for house building in Jaywick and Brooklands.

Brandon Lewis: Holding answer received on 07 December 2015



The Jaywick Coastal Community Team are preparing their Economic Plan, to be completed by the end of January 2016. The Plan will outline the key economic issues facing Jaywick, setting out both the short term and longer term priorities for the Coastal Community Team.The Chancellor confirmed at Autumn Statement last week that the Coastal Communities Fund will be extended from 2017-18 to 2020-21 with at least £90 million of new funding. Details of the next bidding round will be announced in the New Year. The focus of the Fund will remain on support for sustainable jobs and growth.Tendring Council received £1.8 million in New Homes Bonus in 2015-16 and a total of £5.2 million since the scheme started in 2011-12. All new homes are constructed in accordance with Building Regulations, ensuring they meet minimum standards in respect of health, safety and sustainability.

First Time Buyers: Finance

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the amount of funding will be for the Starter Homes Local Authority Funding Programme in each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: We announced, as part of the outcome of the Spending Review in November, a £2.3 billion Starter Homes funding package to support the delivery of our manifesto commitment to build 200,000 Starter Homes by 2020. This is part of the £8 billion we are investing to deliver 400,000 new affordable housing starts. Further details about this funding will be announced shortly.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Islamic State

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Saudi Arabian counterpart on trafficking of Yesidi girls from IS-controlled territories.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We continue to condemn in the strongest terms the atrocities committed by Daesh against all communities throughout the areas under its control. We are working closely with our international coalition partners to assist and protect civilians wherever we can.The human rights situation for many living in areas under Daesh control is gravely concerning, including for Yezidi women. We have received reports of the ordeal faced by these women and others abducted by Daesh including rape, sexual abuse, forced marriage, forced conversion and women being sold as slaves. Through the Department for International Development we are funding activities to protect vulnerable civilians including through legal assistance and support groups for women.

Ilois: Resettlement

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 November 2015 to Question 14443, what sources of funding which are not from the Government are available for the resettlement of Chagossians in the Chagos Archipelago.

James Duddridge: Following the conclusion of a 12 week public consultation on the resettlement of the British Indian Ocean Territory on 27 October, the Government is now considering the responses. As part of that work we are aware of the existence of options including EU and private sector funding to reduce any potential upfront cost to the UK taxpayer of any resettlement. No decision has yet been made about whether to allow a resettlement, and because of that, no discussions have yet been had with any external funding organisations. In any decision, it is important we take into account the high cost associated with resettlement but also the open-ended liabilities it could incur and the need for the military facility on Diego Garcia to continue to operate unhindered.

Michael Misick

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he expects that the trial will begin of Michael Misick, former Prime Minister of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

James Duddridge: We expect the trial to start this week.

Attorney General

Prosecutions

Philip Davies: To ask the Attorney General, how many and what proportion of prosecutions involved more than one perpetrator in the latest year for which information is available.

Robert Buckland: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not maintain a central record of the number of prosecutions involving more than one defendant. This information could only be obtained by examining CPS case files, which would incur disproportionate cost.

Fraud

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney General, pursuant to the Answer of 24 November 2015 to Question 16871, what the budget allocated to the Specialist Fraud Division was in each of the last six years.

Robert Buckland: The budget allocated to the Specialist Fraud Division in each of the last six years was:2009/10 - £7.3m2010/11 - £23.4m2011/12 - £22.1m2012/13 - £26.8m2013/14 - £25.6m2014/15 - £23.6m

Fraud

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney General, pursuant to the Answer of 24 November 2015 to Question 16871, how many full-time equivalent staff worked in the Specialist Fraud Division in each of the last six years.

Robert Buckland: The number of full-time equivalent (FTE) staff that have worked in the Specialist Fraud Division in each of the last six years is shown below.March 2010 - 142 FTEMarch 2011 - 134 FTEMarch 2012 - 138 FTEMarch 2013 - 258 FTEMarch 2014 - 233 FTEMarch 2015 - 230 FTENote: The figures presented above reflect staff in post on 31 March of each year.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Sahaviriya Steel Industries UK: Redcar

Anna Turley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when his Department was first made aware that employer pension payments were not being made by SSI UK.

Anna Soubry: There is a statutory process in place for the reporting of missing pension contributions. Managers of pension schemes are required to report any material non-payment of contributions to The Pensions Regulator within 90 days of those contributions falling due. There is no role for my department in this process.In insolvency situations, such as SSI’s liquidation, unpaid pension contributions can be claimed from the Redundancy Payments Service within specified legal limits. If there are unpaid contributions, then the manager of the pension scheme will submit a claim to the Redundancy Payments Service on behalf of employees.As part of his role as liquidator of SSI UK, the Official Receiver will look into all aspects leading to the company’s failure, including the directors’ conduct.

Overseas Companies: Ethics

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether his Department plans to include measures as part of the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights to promote ethical practices of UK businesses operating abroad.

Anna Soubry: The National Action Plan, to implement the UN Guiding Principles (UNGPs) on Business and Human Rights, was published on GOV.UK on 4th September 2013. This sets out the Government’s expectation of UK businesses to respect human rights wherever they operate.We continue to update our action plan, reflecting the progress we have made as well as covering other related action taking place across Government such as the Modern Slavery Act.

Government Departments: Chief Scientific Advisers

Chris Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what his policy is on ensuring that all government departments have access to a chief scientific advisor.

Joseph Johnson: The Chief Scientific Advisers work across departments in partnership with policy makers to ensure the very best in scientific evidence is used in the policy process. Where posts are unfilled, the Government Office for Science works with departments to ensure they have access to relevant expertise and evidence.

Higher Education: North West

Julie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many people from (a) Burnley, (b) Lancashire and (b) the North West are currently in higher education.

Joseph Johnson: The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) collects and publishes statistics on students enrolled at UK Higher Education Institutions (HEI). The most recent data covers the 2013-14 academic year. The latest figures for the numbers of higher education students who were living in the Burnley constituency, Lancashire, and the North West prior to study are presented in the following table:Higher Education Enrolments by Region1UK Higher Education InstitutionsAcademic Year 2013-14UndergraduatePostgraduateTotalBurnley1,8802752,155Lancashire28,0505,76033,810North West162,08034,040196,125Source: Higher Education Statistics AgencyNote: Figures rounded to the nearest multiple of 51Parliamentary constituency is derived from student's postcode

Overseas Students

Caroline Ansell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to ensure that the UK remains competitive with other countries in attracting overseas students to higher and further education; and if he will make a statement.

Joseph Johnson: The UK welcomes international students and there is no cap on the number that can study here. The Government promotes study in the UK through the Britain is GREAT marketing campaign and through the British Council, which promotes UK education in over 100 countries, connecting millions of people with the United Kingdom.The Government has a number of major education agreements with overseas partners. Key programmes include the UK-China Partners in Education Programme, the UK-India Education Research Initiative and engagement in Brazil’s ‘Science without Borders’ scholarship scheme.Government also supports student exchange, such as through the Erasmus Scheme, which enables international students to take short placements in the UK and British students to gain valuable overseas experience.As part of our recent Spending Review the Government has also reaffirmed the importance international students to the success of UK universities and the economy. To ensure universities can continue to compete with the US, Australia and Canada for top international students, dependants of postgraduates on courses lasting more than a year will be welcome to come and work. Current English language requirements will be maintained.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Research

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much of his Department's funding allocated in the Spending Review 2015 will be for research and development expenditure up to 2020.

Joseph Johnson: The Spending Review announced that we will protect the Science Budget in real terms throughout this Parliament, with resource funding of £4.7 billion per year, while delivering on our manifesto commitment to invest in new scientific infrastructure on a record scale: £6.9 billion up to 2021.The Comprehensive Spending Review set out the high level budgets for my department. The total planned expenditure on research and development through to 2020 will be confirmed in due course following an internal allocations process.

Neurology: Research

Nick Thomas-Symonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of the science budget in the period from 2010 to 2014 was spent on neurological research.

Joseph Johnson: The information is not available in the form requested, however the UK Health Research Analysis 2014 (published by UK Clinical Research Collaboration, 2015) shows that in 2014 combined UK government expenditure on neurological research, including spend from the Research Councils and Devolved Administrations, was £131 million. This accounted for around 11 per cent of the total £1.2 billion government spend reported across all areas of health research in the period. The report is available at www.hrcsonline.net/pages/uk-health-research-analysis-2014.

Parkinson's Disease: Dementia

Nick Thomas-Symonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether he plans for the Dementia Research Institute to conduct research into Parkinson's dementia.

Joseph Johnson: The Prime Minister announced up to £150 million for the UK’s first Dementia Research Institute on 24 November. The institute will cover the full spectrum of discovery science into age-related neurodegenerative diseases that progress to dementia, including Parkinson’s Disease.Development of the Dementia Research Institute will be led by the Medical Research Council (MRC). In 2016 the MRC will open a competitive process to identify a host for the institute and lead the search for its director.

Cleveland Potash: Redundancy

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will extend the support package for workers affected by the closure of Sahaviriya Steel Industries UK to people employed at Cleveland Potash.

Anna Soubry: I refer the hon Member to the reply I gave on 30 November to Question UIN 16315 and in the debate in Westminster Hall on 2 December.

Royal Mail

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what provision the Government made in the conditions of the sale of Royal Mail for suitable local alternatives to be provided in the event that local sorting or collection offices were closed.

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether the Government sought assurances from Royal Mail that local collection offices would not be closed after the sale of that company.

Anna Soubry: Decisions on whether to close and re-locate local collection offices have always been operational matters for Royal Mail. The Government played no role in such decisions prior to the sale of Royal Mail.Regardless of ownership, Royal Mail, as the United Kingdom’s designated universal service provider, is required to provide a universal postal service that meets the minimum requirements as set out under the Postal Services Act 2011.It is the responsibility of the postal regulator, Ofcom, to ensure that Royal Mail provides sufficient access points to meet its universal postal service obligations.

Productivity

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 30 November 2015 to Question 17311, what financial support his Department is providing for the Government's Productivity Plan; and if he will make a statement.

Joseph Johnson: All Government Departments have a role in helping to raise productivity and foster a dynamic economy. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) holds many of the key productivity levers, including skills, innovation, competition and regulation. The bulk of BIS spending therefore supports the Productivity Plan. The table displays total BIS Departmental Expenditure Limits up to 2019/20, as set out in the Spending Review. Specifically with regard to research, the Government has committed to protect the science resource and capital budget in real terms during this Parliament.2015-162016-172017-182018-192019-20Total DEL (£bn)16.616.514.513.413.2https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/479749/52229_Blue_Book_PU1865_Web_Accessible.pdf

Private Sector: Procurement

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department has taken to encourage (a) UK-owned and (b) UK-based private sector companies to invest in UK energy and manufacturing supply chains.

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the effect on the UK economy of UK supply chain contracts being awarded to overseas bidders.

Anna Soubry: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has worked jointly with Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) and UKTI to encourage investment in UK energy supply chains, in both UK-owned and UK-based companies, and to achieve higher levels of UK content in energy infrastructure. We have worked constructively with project developers to enhance the opportunities for UK-based companies to win contracts and with top tier suppliers to encourage them to invest in the UK.BIS continues to work with DECC and the Oil & Gas Authority (OGA) to encourage investment in the UK Continental shelf (UKCS) and these arrangements include the formation of a Supply Chain Board to promote development of the oil and gas supply chain. Subsequent to the Oil & Gas Skills Analysis Report we maintain a regular dialogue with Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organisation (OPITO), the oil and gas skills body, who advise on skills gaps.For large renewable energy projects, developers are required to have their Supply Chain Plans approved by Government, setting out how they will boost competition, innovation and skills, before they are eligible to apply for price support under the Contract for Difference regime. BIS has supported the GROW: Offshore Wind programme to help SMEs in England to compete in the offshore wind supply chain and the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult to help companies bring new technologies to market.Open competition is important to bring down the costs of energy and, in open competition, UK bidders do not always win the contracts. We have made no specific assessment of the impact of UK contractors failing to win contracts on the UK economy, including the Scotland economy, and on the UK skills base.More widely, the Government is taking a number of steps to strengthen UK manufacturing supply chains and help these businesses compete in global markets.First and foremost, we are building a strong economy and a competitive business environment. We are backing manufacturers by cutting corporation tax, slashing red tape by a further £10billion and investing £6.9billion in the UK’s infrastructure. This is creating the right economic conditions to encourage the business investment crucial to UK manufacturing productivity growth and jobs.Through the sectors councils we are working closely with manufacturing companies to understand their needs and remove barriers in their path. The Government continues to invest in our world leading aerospace, automotive, defence and transport sectors and has reformed procurement rules so the supply chain can reap maximum benefit; whilst the High Value Manufacturing Catapult shows how companies can adapt to new technologies reduce their costs and boost productivity. One in six manufacturers have reshored production over the past three years and around one third of the 2,000 new Foreign Direct Investment projects landed in 2014/15 were in the areas of advanced manufacturing and life sciences. Business has the confidence to invest and make things in the UK again because the Government is getting the fundamentals of the economy right and creating a highly competitive, pro-business environment.

Institute for Apprenticeships

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 1 December 2015 to Question 18024, when he plans for the membership of the Institute for Apprenticeships to be announced.

Nick Boles: The Chair and Board Members will be appointed through public appointments. The outcome will be announced as soon as the process allows in 2016.

Business-University Research Collaborations Review

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when the Government's response will be published to the Dowling Review of Business-University Research Collaborations.

Joseph Johnson: We are grateful for the insights and recommendations provided in Dame Ann Dowling’s Review of Business-University Research Collaborations. We recognise and support the conclusion it has reached and Innovate UK is already working to simplify its product offering. Alongside the recent Higher Education Green Paper and Sir Paul Nurse’sreport, it will now be taken forward in our review of the funding landscape to make it, as recommended by Dame Ann, more strategic, coherent and effective.

Offshoring

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) effect to date and (b) potential future effect on the UK skills base of the outsourcing of UK manufacturing and energy supply chain contracts to other EU member states.

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the potential economic effect on Scotland of Buchan Deep supply chain work being awarded to a company that will undertake the work overseas.

Anna Soubry: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 7 December 2015 to Question UIN 18533.

Higher Education: Admissions

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015, whether access for disabled students will be included in measures to determine whether higher education institutions deliver effective outcomes for widening access and social mobility.

Joseph Johnson: Higher Education Institutions have clear responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 to support their students, including those with disabilities. The Independent Office for Fair Access (OFFA) has agreed 183 Access Agreements for 2016/17 with plans for Universities to spend more than £745 million on measures to improve access and student success for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, up from £404m in 2009/10. HEIs choose their own access agreement measures and targets, in line with their own particular mission and challenges and these can include targets on disability where appropriate.

Students: Loans

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the number of student loan borrowers with post-2012 student loan arrangements in (a) Salford and Eccles constituency, (b) the City of Salford and (c) Greater Manchester.

Joseph Johnson: The Student Loans Company (SLC) administers student support for each of the UK Government Administrations. Information on English loan borrowers is published annually by SLC in the Statistical First Release ‘Student Loans in England: FY 2014-15’.http://www.slc.co.uk/official-statistics/student-loans-debt-and-repayment/england.aspxThe numbers of borrowers at the end of the 2014-15 financial year with post-2012 student loan arrangements who had been domiciled in (a) Salford and Eccles constituency, (b) the City of Salford and (c) Greater Manchester when they applied for financial support is set out in the following table:Borrowers with post-2012 Loan Arrangements by Domicile (1)Geographical AreaBorrowers (2, 3)Salford and Eccles3,240City of Salford4,300Greater Manchester53,970Source: Student Loans CompanyNotes:(1) Borrowers with loans outstanding as of 31/03/2015(2) Excludes Further Education students(3) Figures rounded to the nearest multiple of 10

Students: Loans

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to assist poorer students with the repayment of their student loans.

Joseph Johnson: Student loan repayments are income contingent and deductions are taken at 9% of income over the applicable repayment threshold.The repayment threshold affords protection to lower earning borrowers. Borrowers make no repayment if their income remains or falls below the threshold.

Department for International Development

Burundi: Humanitarian Aid

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussion she has had with the European Commission's (a) Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department and (b) Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development on responding to humanitarian needs in Burundi.

Mr Nick Hurd: The UK Government is extremely concerned by the ongoing political unrest in Burundi and its humanitarian consequences, including internally displaced persons and the flow of Burundian refugees to neighbouring countries.The Secretary of State attended the Foreign Affairs Council for Development on 26 October where it was agreed to launch Article 96 consultation procedures with Burundi. Senior Officials from DFID have raised Burundi with appropriate interlocutors, including in Brussels.

Department for International Development: Labour Mobility

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many civil servants in her Department are in the redeployment pool.

Mr Desmond Swayne: DFID has 10 staff at present in its redeployment pool of staff who have become surplus due to the role they were filling either having been discontinued, or it having been confirmed to them that their role will be discontinued.For those whose roles have already been discontinued (5 staff), temporary work has been found whilst we continue to look for more appropriate longer term positions for them.

Middle East: Humanitarian Aid

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, in which countries her Department plans to spend the additional £1 billion of Government funding for humanitarian efforts in and around Syria; and how much of that spending has been allocated for each country.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The UK has always punched above its weight in helping deal with the effects of the Syria crisis. We will continue to do so for the reconstruction of Syria. On 26 November, the Prime Minister announced at least £1 billion for Syria’s reconstruction. This signalled the UK’s enduring commitment to Syria and focused international attention on the need to plan now for reconstruction inside Syria. This funding will be used to support activities inside Syria and is additional to the existing £1.1 billion the UK has already pledged to respond to the ongoing crisis inside Syria and the region.

Department for Education

Pupil Premium: Lewes

Maria Caulfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which schools in Lewes constituency receive pupil premium funding.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Details of the schools in Lewes constituency which are receiving pupil premium funding in 2015-16 are published at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/439865/Pupil_premium_final_allocations_2015_to_2016_by_school_in_England.ods.

Free School Meals: North West

Mr Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children in each county and unitary council area in the North West are currently receiving free school meals under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The number of children eligible and receiving free school meals (FSM) is available at regional and local authority level online at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2015.We do not hold information on the qualifying benefits of individual claimants.

Ministry of Justice

Secure Colleges: Expenditure

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 9 July 2015 to Question 5710, what the cost to the public purse has been of his Department's spending on the Secure College programme to date.

Andrew Selous: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 15 July 2015.The correct answer should have been:

Total estimated spend on the Secure College pathfinder was £5.88m. This includes an estimated £1.56m resource spend (mainly expenditure on staff pay and procurement) and an estimated £4.32m capital spend (mainly design fees and site preparation costs). These figures are subject to review by the National Audit Office in January 2016.All services were procured through a competitive process and assessed as providing value for money to the department. The design work produced for the pathfinder could be used or adapted for alternative provision, and the prepared site at Glen Parva could be used for a range of developments.

Andrew Selous: Total estimated spend on the Secure College pathfinder was £5.88m. This includes an estimated £1.56m resource spend (mainly expenditure on staff pay and procurement) and an estimated £4.32m capital spend (mainly design fees and site preparation costs). These figures are subject to review by the National Audit Office in January 2016.All services were procured through a competitive process and assessed as providing value for money to the department. The design work produced for the pathfinder could be used or adapted for alternative provision, and the prepared site at Glen Parva could be used for a range of developments.

Ministry of Justice: Public Expenditure

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the total cost to the public purse of his Department's proposed policies on (a) secure colleges, (b) the prisoners' book ban, (c) HMCTS privatisation and (d) Saudi prison contracts.

Andrew Selous: a) I refer the Honourable member to the answer given to question 6553 on 15 July 2015.b) The policy on books was implemented using existing resources.c) I refer the Honourable member to the answer given to 12150 on 6 November 2015.d) The cost of preparing the bid to provide a training needs analysis for the Saudi Arabian Prison Service was met from within the National Offender Management Service’s existing resources.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when his Department plans to answer Question 13074, on Ministry of Justice: Public Expenditure, tabled by the hon. Member for Hammersmith on 22 October 2015.

Andrew Selous: I refer the honourable member to the answer given to PQ 13074 on 7 December 2015.

Ministry of Justice: Public Expenditure

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of changes to his Department's policies on (a) the provision of secure colleges, (b) prohibiting prisoners from receiving books, (c) the sale of HM Courts and Tribunal Service, (d) Saudi prison contracts and (e) the timetable for the tender for criminal defence work.

Andrew Selous: I refer the honourable member to the answer given to PQ 13074 on 7th December 2015. There was never any plan to sell HM Courts and Tribunals Service. There is no cost to the public purse from the delay to implementation of new criminal legal aid contracts.

Youth Custody: Per Capita Costs

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the average amount the Youth Justice Board will pay for each place for a child in (a) Medway secure training centre, (b)Oakhill secure training centre, (c) Rainsbrook secure training centre, (d) Cookham Wood young offender institution, (e) Feltham young offender institution, (f) Parc young offender institution, (g) Werrington young offender institution and (h) Wetherby young offender institution; and what the average amount the Youth Justice Board paid on average for each place for a child in each of those institutions was in (i) 2013-14 and (ii) 2014-15.

Andrew Selous: Secure Training Centres (STCs) typically cater for younger offenders with multiple or complex needs and therefore have smaller units and higher staff ratios than Young Offender Institutions (YOIs).The Youth Justice Board calculates the average cost of custody per place per year based on assumed full occupancy of all youth secure establishments. Table 1 shows the average costs for a place per year at each of the specified STCs and YOIs for each year since 2013/14.Table 1: Average costs per place per year by youth secure establishment Establishment 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16(a) Medway STC£214,606£157,110£138,051(b) Oakhill STC£204,301£210,926£217,485(c) Rainsbrook STC£175,479£181,194£134,955(d) Cookham Wood YOI£76,051£53,915£81,089(e) Feltham YOI£53,690£55,120£68,548(f) Parc YOI£67,995£68,611£69,331(g) Werrington YOI£55,638£57,090£91,306(h) Wetherby YOI£46,688£59,579£70,505Notes:Prices not adjusted for inflationBusiness rates are included for STCs (business rates are charged on non-domestic property).Costs do not include VAT where this is applicable (STCs and Parc).Advocacy service prices are included for STCs and YOIs. The advocacy service is an independent service that supports young people within the secure estate.These costs do not include costs associated with escorting of young people between courts and secure accommodation.In 2015/16 the YJB became responsible for commissioning education in public sector YOIs, which was previously funded through the Education Funding Agency. New YOI education contracts have also increased the number of education hours available to young people.Costs at Medway and Rainsbrook STCs reduced between 2014/15 and 2015/16, following contract renegotiations and the removal of healthcare costs from these contracts. The Oakhill contract includes costs associated with healthcare, unlike the other two STCs.

Criminal Cases Review Commission: Performance Standards

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 30 November 2015 to Question 17450, what assessment his Department has made of the performance of the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

Mike Penning: The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has improved its performance in recent years from closing 947 cases in 2010/11 to closing 1,632 cases in 2014/15. The CCRC has also recently undertaken a review of working practices that is expected to lead to further improvements.

Begging and Vagrancy: Convictions

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were convicted of begging in the latest period for which information is available.

Andrew Selous: The number of people convicted at all courts of offences related to begging in 2014 (latest available) is available at the following link under offence code 182 (begging).https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/428937/outcomes-by-offence-tables.xlsxThese figures relate to offences under Section 4 of the Vagrancy Act 1824.

Prison Accommodation

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average size of a cell is in (a) male and (b) female prisons.

Andrew Selous: The information requested is not held centrally.

Prisoners

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average number of prisoners is per cell in (a) male and (b) female prisons.

Andrew Selous: As at Friday 27th November 2015 the average number of prisoners per occupied cell in both male and female prisons is one.

Magistrates: Resignations

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of magistrates has resigned in each month since January 2015.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The requested information is provided in the table below.MonthResignationsProportion of total in post*Jan660.34Feb460.24Mar950.50Apr800.42May950.50Jun920.48Jul790.41Aug690.36Sep890.46Oct800.42Nov640.33* There are approximately 19,000 magistrates in England and Wales.

Prisoners: Mental Illness

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of prisoners with mental health problems; how many and what proportion of such prisoners are (a) men and (b) women; and how many and what proportion of such prisoners identify as LGBT.

Andrew Selous: The Government has carried out a survey of prisoners assessing levels of mental health problems within the male and female estate. A link to that report can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/220060/gender-substance-misuse-mental-health-prisoners.pdfWe do not hold data on the proportion of the prison population who suffer from mental health problems and identify as LGBT.

Prime Minister

UN Climate Change Conference

Paul Flynn: To ask the Prime Minister, which (a) business organisations and (b) non-governmental organisations he met during his visit to the COP 21 climate change conference in Paris on 30 November 2015.

Mr David Cameron: Details of my meetings with external organisations are published on a quarterly basis and are available via the gov.uk website.

Armed Forces: Deployment

Ronnie Cowan: To ask the Prime Minister, if the Government will bring forward legislative proposals to ensure any future decisions to deploy the armed forces requires a full debate and vote within the House.

Mr David Cameron: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for North Wiltshire (Mr Gray) on 26 November 2015, Official Report, column 1509.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

British Sky Broadcasting and 21st Century Fox

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what meetings he has had with representatives of (a) Sky plc and (b) 21st Century Fox since 7 May 2015.

Tracey Crouch: Information on Ministers' meetings with external organisations, including meetings with Media organisations, are included in the quarterly transparency returns.

Big Lottery Fund

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effect of planned changes in funding for the Big Lottery Fund on local community, sport and cultural organisations.

Tracey Crouch: As set out in the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Autumn statement last week, there are no plans to reduce the Big Lottery Fund’s budget. The Fund will continue to receive 40% of National Lottery good cause money. Sport, Arts and Heritage will also continue to receive 20% each.

Sports: Drugs

Mr Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the prevalence of the use of performance advancing drugs in UK sport.

Tracey Crouch: The Government supports the work of UK Anti-Doping which works tirelessly to ensure athletes and sport are clean. Through testing programmes, intelligence sharing with law-enforcement agencies on supplying and trafficking, and its excellent athlete education initiatives, UKAD is one of the world's most highly regarded national anti-doping organisations.

Horse Racing: Betting

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he intends to bring forward legislative proposals to replace the horserace betting levy with a horserace betting right.

Tracey Crouch: Work is continuing on the detailed policy design of the replacement for the existing levy. We will make a further announcement in due course.

Betting Shops: Advertising

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what guidance his Department gives to betting companies on the nature of their messages about responsible gambling required in their shop window advertising.

Tracey Crouch: Dedicating 20% of shop window advertising to responsible gambling messages is an industry-led initiative, introduced by the Senet Group last year.All gambling advertising must comply with the UK Advertising Codes. These Codes include a number of requirements, such as ensuring that advertising is not aimed at children or young people and that it does not leave vulnerable people open to exploitation or harm.More generally, the Gambling Commission’s Licence conditions and codes of practice (LCCP) require that all gambling advertising should be undertaken in a socially responsible manner.

Gaming Machines

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the regulations introduced in April 2015 which ended unsupervised stakes above £50 on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals in betting shops.

Tracey Crouch: The Government, along with the Gambling Commission, is in the process of evaluating the effects of ending unsupervised stakes over £50 and we will publish the results in due course

Horse Racing: Betting

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of changes in revenue from the Horserace Betting Levy arising from the activities of remote betting operators based offshore.

Tracey Crouch: The levy rate is set annually and is paid by bookmakers based in Great Britain, it does not currently apply to betting operators based offshore. The Government remains committed to replacing the current levy system to create a level playing field for British based and offshore gambling operators.

Opinion Polls

Mr Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will take steps to require newspapers and journals to publish on their websites what the questions asked, sample sizes and composition of people in terms of age, sex and ethnicity were for opinion polls cited in their publications.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Editors' Code of Practice sets out the rules and standards to which the press can be held to account. The Code is administered by the Editors' Code of Practice Committee and is evolving all the time to suit changing circumstances. Amendments to the Code can be suggested via the Committee's website:http://www.editorscode.org.uk/.

Horse Racing: Australia

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) funding of horseracing and (b) effect of Race Fields legislation in Australia.

Tracey Crouch: To inform work to replace the current levy system, we have commissioned an independent economic analysis of the costs and funding of horseracing. This economic analysis work will also examine relevant comparable models, including the Australian system, however any reform of the Levy will need to comply with EU law.

Horse Racing: Betting

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to paragraph 2.144 of the Summer Budget 2015, what progress has been made on designing the Horserace Betting Right; and when he plans to publish his proposals on that matter.

Tracey Crouch: Work is continuing on the detailed policy design of the replacement for the existing levy.As part of the design work we commissioned an independent economic analysis of the costs and funding of racing. This will draw on information provided by betting and racing, and will be key to assessing what level of funding from betting to racing would be reasonable.We will make a further announcement in due course

Battle of Preston: Anniversaries

Mr Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether he has written to congratulate the organisers of the celebrations to commemorate the tercentenary of the Battle of Preston.

Tracey Crouch: The programme of events run by the Harris Museum and Preston City Council to commemorate the last battle on English soil - which received nearly £50,000 of support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, alongside funding from other local groups - has been a huge success. I was delighted to write to the organisers to congratulate them on this excellent series of family events.

Department for Work and Pensions

Personal Independence Payment

Neil Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect on claimants of the extension of time for personal independence payment reassessments referred to in the OBR forecasts of November 2015; and what steps he is taking to address the concerns of people on disability living allowance whose reassessments will take longer to process as a result.

Justin Tomlinson: The Government is committed to delivering Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in a safe and secure way, ensuring that we continue to roll it out to existing recipients of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) based on capacity, to ensure an effective and efficient service for claimants. Full PIP roll out started in July this year in a controlled way, allowing us to test, learn and improve the service before we ramp up at scale. From October, in line with previously published plans, we began the full rollout of PIP nationally. There are no delays in the claiming system and we are currently working at business as usual capacity. Existing DLA claimants are being kept informed about reassessment activity, including when or under what circumstances they may be invited to claim PIP, through a range of communication measures including information provided in the annual uprating letter or through information available on www.gov.uk.

Local Housing Allowance

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many local housing allowance rates were subject to the overall caps rates for the relevant property size in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14 and (d) 2014-15.

Justin Tomlinson: In 2011-12 Local Housing Allowance rates were uprated on a monthly basis. In April 2011, eleven LHA rates were set at the level of the LHA caps for the relevant property size. By the end of the year, in March 2012, seventeen LHA rates were set at the level of the caps. In 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 the number of LHA rates subject to the caps was 17, 15 and 18 respectively.

Employment Schemes: Lone Parents

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department has taken since 2012 to evaluate the effectiveness of the application of the work-preparation requirements which have applied to single parents who are in receipt of income support and whose youngest child is aged three or four.

Priti Patel: There is currently no evaluation on the effectiveness of the application of this requirement, however, we have this under review. Statistics show that the employment rate for lone parents has increased from 57% in June 2010 to 64.4% in June 2015.

Department for Work and Pensions: Labour Mobility

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many civil servants in his Department are in the redeployment pool.

Justin Tomlinson: DWP does not have a redeployment pool. Currently there are 40 individuals within the Department who are seeking redeployment.

Vacancies: Internet

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of lone parents in receipt of (a) jobseeker's allowance and (b) income support moved into work after successfully applying for a vacancy advertised on Universal Jobmatch  in the most recent month for which figures are available.

Priti Patel: I am information requested is not available.

Social Security Benefits

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of new claims for (a) jobseeker's allowance and (b) employment and support allowance made in the most recent month for which figures are available were made by a person who had been in receipt of the same benefit at any point during the proceeding 12 months.

Priti Patel: The information as requested is not readily available, and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Local Housing Allowance

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect of freezing local housing allowance on working families in privately-rented accommodation.

Justin Tomlinson: As Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation levels are close to zero, the impact of freezing Local Housing Allowance rates will have no impact in 2016/17 when compared to the counterfactual of uprating by CPI. (In future years, 30 per cent of the savings from the ‘freeze’ will be used to create further Targeted Affordability Funding to help those areas where rent increases are causing a shortage of affordable accommodation.)

Occupational Pensions

Mr Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress he has made on the auto-enrolment of people onto workplace pensions.

Justin Tomlinson: DWP’s latest evaluation report on Automatic Enrolment shows that since it’s introduction in 2012, participation in workplace pension saving by eligible workers in the private sector has increased by 21 percentage points.

Ministry of Defence

Radioactive Materials: Transport

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the decision was made by Defence Equipment and Support to transport special nuclear materials through Glasgow on 29 July 2015.

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answers of 21 October 2015 to Questions 12114 and 12115, on what date Defence Equipment and Support made the decision that the High Security Vehicle should be withdrawn from service on 31 July 2015.

Mr Philip Dunne: The decision to withdraw the High Security Vehicle from service on 31 July 2015 was made in February 2015.Decisions and timings on the routes to be used for the transportation of Defence Nuclear Material are part of the operational planning process. I am withholding further information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

Marines: Disciplinary Proceedings

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to ensure that marines who attended a demonstration at Downing Street in respect of Marine Blackman are not subject to disciplinary procedures.

Mr Julian Brazier: Disciplinary procedures against any member of the Armed Forces are a matter for the relevant Service and it would be inappropriate for any Minister to interfere in such a process.

Ministry of Defence: Scotland

Richard  Arkless: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of the reduction in the number of civilians referred to in paragraph 4.61 of the National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, Cm 9161, will be made in Scotland.

Mr Julian Brazier: Full details of how these reductions will be profiled over the next five years will be developed as programmes mature.

Ministry of Defence: Labour Mobility

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many civil servants in his Department are in the redeployment pool.

Mr Julian Brazier: As at 31 October 2015 the number of Ministry of Defence civil servants in the redeployment pool was 240 (rounded to the nearest 10).

Armed Forces: Training

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 30 November 2015 to Question 17694, how many training courses have been completed at (a) MOD Grantown-on-Spey, (b) MOD Llanrwst, (c) MOD Fairbourne and (d) MOD Crickhowell in each year from 2010 to 2015; how many students of each service attended each such course; what the cost of each such course was per trainee; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Julian Brazier: Due to the variation in course length (from one day through to 42 weeks), the number of courses completed is not recorded. Rather, delivery is measured on the number of weeks of training delivered. For financial year (FY) 2014-15, the number of weeks of training delivered at each centre is as follows (historical data is not held).Force Development Training Centre (FDTC) Grantown - 46 weeksJoint School for Adventorous Training (JSATI) Llanrwst - 41 weeksFDTC Fairbourne - 45 weeksFDTC Crickhowell - 46 weeksInformation on the number of attendees is not held as costs are solely dependent on the maximum bed space capacity, regardless of the number of students attending.Please see the information below giving the operating costs covering all locations for the last four financial years, for which information is available.FY 2011-12 £FY 2012-13 £FY 2013-14 £FY 2014-15 £FDTC Grantown295,624220,819213,781231,290JSATI Llanrwst292,320302,366382,063281,695FDTC Fairbourne259,855292,885325,181279,093FDTC Crickhowell688,808654,010646,027643,985

Military Bases

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 2 December 2015 to Question 17679, what the maintenance, improvement and development costs of (a) MOD Grantown-on-Spey, (b) MOD Llanrwst, (c) MOD Fairbourne and (d) MOD Crickhowell were in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Julian Brazier: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her by the Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans (Mark Lancaster) on 2 December to Question number 17679. Some costs for some previous years may be available and Ministry of Defence officials are reviewing them. I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.



17679 - QnA extract on Military Bases
(Word Document, 15.06 KB)

Military Bases

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 2 December 2015 to Question 17676, on military bases, whether those beds spaces have been consistently present and utilised in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Julian Brazier: The bed spaces at Force Development Training Centre (FDTC) Grantown-On-Spey, Joint School for Adventurous Training Instructors (JSATI) Llanrwst and FDTC Fairbourne have remained constant over the last five years. Since August 2015, FDTC Crickhowell has increased the bed spaces available from 80 to 260, at Cwrt-Y-Gollen Cadet Training Centre, which is adjacent to FDTC Crickhowell.Bed space use is driven by the training requirement.

Military Bases

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 2 December 2015 to Question 17676, how many nights bed and breakfast has been utilised at (a) MOD Crickhowell, (b) MOD Fairbourne, (c) MOD Grantown-on-Spey and (d) MOD Llanrwst in each of the last five years; and what the cost of that provision was in each case.

Mr Julian Brazier: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her by the Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans (Mark Lancaster) on 2 December to Question number 17676.The cost of bed and breakfast accommodation at Force Development Training Centre (FDTC) Fairbourne was £540.00 and FDTC Grantown-on-Sprey was £1,920.00 during financial year 2014-15



17676 - QnA extact on Military Bases
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Air Force: Northern Ireland

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made on establishment of a Northern Ireland University Air Squadron.

Mr Julian Brazier: The two newly established staff posts in the Northern Ireland Universities Air Squadron were filled in October and November 2015, and the first students were accepted on 25 November. Of the 24 student places, 11 have so far been filled.

Armed Forces: Deployment

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 30 November 2015 to Question 17530, what information his Department holds on which foreign armed forces British military personnel were embedded within the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 November 2015 to Question 17530 to the hon. Member for Coventry South (Jim Cunningham).



17530 - QnA extract on Armed Forces Deployments
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Armed Forces: Training

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the ratio of students to instructors in Force Development and Adventure Training is; whether there is a different ratio of students to instructors for each of those activities; whether that ratio has changed in the last 10 years; whether he plans to review that ratio as a result of the Force Development and Adventure Training review; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the ratio of students to instructors varies across his Department's centres which provide force development and adventure training; whether risk assessments have been carried out on the student to instructor ratio in those centres; whether those risk assessments have been changed at any time in the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Julian Brazier: Force Development (FD) and Adventurous Training (AT) are governed separately. AT instructor to student ratios for each approved AT activity are laid out in Joint Service Policy (JSP) 419 (Joint Services Adventurous Training), which can be found at the following website:www.raf.mod.uk/rafhpa/rafcms/mediafiles/3033F0D5_5056_A318_A81B12353A721C24.pdfFD is a term predominantly utilised by the Royal Air Force and is made up of many delivery mechanisms, including AT, collective training and military exercises. The instructor to student ratio varies according to the activity risk assessment, which is carried out for each activity. Where AT is used as a delivery mechanism for FD, instructor to student ratios within JSP419 will be used.The policy for AT student to instructor ratios is regularly reviewed and updated.

Home Office

Visas: Married People

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of premium service spousal visa applications were determined on the day of application in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) 2014.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 30 November 2015



The proportion of premium service spousal visa applications that received a grant or refusal outcome and were determined on the day of application during 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 were (data from 2009 has been included for context):• In 2009, of 5930 applications, 80% were determined on the day of application• In 2010, of 6360 applications, 80% were determined on the day of application• In 2011, of 6855 applications, 74% were determined on the day of application• In 2012, of 5670 applications, 69% were determined on the day of application• In 2013, of 6335 applications, 78% were determined on the day of application• In 2014, of 6725 applications, 91% were determined on the day of application

Visas: Married People

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of spousal visa postal applications were determined within eight weeks in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) 2014.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 30 November 2015



The proportion of postal spousal visa applications that received a grant or refusal outcome and were determined within eight weeks during 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 were (data from 2009 has been included for context):• In 2009, of 19436 applications, 11% were determined within eight weeks• In 2010, of 17455 applications, 51% were determined within eight weeks• In 2011, of 11570 applications, 73% were determined within eight weeks• In 2012, of 9580 applications, 12% were determined within eight weeks• In 2013, of 20440 applications, 31% were determined within eight weeks• In 2014, of 13020 applications, 65% were determined within eight weeks

Visas: Palestinians

Dr Tania Mathias: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason UK consular services did not allow medical experts from Gaza to travel to the UK to attend the recent conference at Kingston University on trauma in war zones.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 04 December 2015



In order to safeguard an individual’s personal information and comply with the Data Protection Act 1998, the Home Office is limited in what information it can provide when the request is made by someone who is not the applicant. The Home Office is, therefore, unable to provide the information requested.All applications are considered on their individual merits and in line with the Immigration Rules.

Refugees: Calais

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions her Department has conducted with its French counterpart on co-ordinating humanitarian relief efforts in Calais.

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assistance and advice her Department is providing to UK volunteers offering assistance to refugees in Calais.

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with her French counterpart on securing a long-term solution to the situation in Calais.

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what preparations her Department has made for the increased level of aid required in Calais when winter sets in.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 04 December 2015



The Home Office is in regular discussions with French counterparts at ministerial and official level on all aspects of the migrant situation in Calais. The French Government is responsible for the care of migrants in Calais, including support over the winter. However, both governments are committed to finding a sustainable solution to the situation in Calais. One aspect of the UK-France Joint Declaration of 20 August, committed the UK to providing a £3.6 million (or €5 million) per year for two years to help support a range of work to manage the migrant population in Calais, in particular to provide support and facilities elsewhere in France. Additionally, the UK has provided £530,000 (€750,000) to fund a project to identify those in the camps at risk of trafficking and exploitation, to transfer them to places of safety; and to provide them with appropriate support within the French system.The UK and French Governments are unified in their response to the migratory phenomenon and both governments recognise the importance of close partnership and collaboration to reach a long-term solution. This is a global challenge, and we will also work together to ensure that other EU states, as well as source and transit countries outside Europe, are doing everything they ought to be to stop people making these dangerous journeys in the first place.

Refugees: Preston

Mr Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assistance her Department plans to permit Serco to give the Diocese of Blackburn to facilitate the settlement of Syrian refugees in Preston.

Richard Harrington: The UK has been operating resettlement schemes for many years and we already have established and effective networks to accommodate and support resettled people. It is up to each individual local authority to decide how best to manage the resettlement of refugees in their area, and they are therefore free to choose their own delivery partners.

Migration: Australasia and Canada

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to allow the free movement of citizens between the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

James Brokenshire: The Government has no plans to legislate to introduce free movement between the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.The United Kingdom’s existing immigration arrangements, do nevertheless reflect the case for promoting mobility between countries. This includes the Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme which allows 18-30 year olds from Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other participating countries and territories to experience life in the UK for two years including the ability for them to work. We also continue to operate arrangements under which nationals of Commonwealth countries that have a UK-born grandparent may be admitted to work and settle in the United Kingdom through the UK Ancestry route. Also, citizens of Australia, Canada and New Zealand do not require a visa to visit the UK and the permitted activities of visitors include business related activities such as attending meetings and conferences, negotiating and signing business contracts and attending trade fairs for promotional work.We have also introduced new measures such as the registered traveller scheme which offers expedited entry to the UK through use of the e-gates at the border.

Counter-terrorism: Finance

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much her Department plans to spend on domestic counter-terrorism operations in each of the next five years; and if she will make a statement.

Mr John Hayes: Holding answer received on 07 December 2015



The Government protected counter-terrorism police funding over the last 5 years and the Strategic Defence and Security Review and Spending Review both confirmed a real terms increase to counter-terrorism police funding to invest in new capabilities.The Spending Review announcement set the overall budget for the Home Office. Officials are now going through the detail and will continue to provide advice to the Home Secretary on individual allocations and spending commitments. We anticipate that funding allocations for counter-terrorism will be confirmed in the New Year.

Passports: British Embassy Dublin

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people applied for British passports through the passport section of the British embassy in Dublin in the last 12 months.

James Brokenshire: Her Majesty’s Passport Office Belfast commenced the repatriation of application processing for customers residing in the Republic of Ireland on 20th January 2014 and the decommissioning of passport processing at the British Embassy in Dublin was completed by 31st March 2014. Therefore, no applications for British passports will have been dealt with or issued by the British Embassy Dublin after 31 March 2014.

Police: Finance

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to paragraph 1.81 of the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015, whether the protection of overall police spending includes (a) British Transport Police, (b) the Civil Nuclear Constabulary and (c) the Ministry of Defence Police.

Mike Penning: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Refugees: Syria

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what procedures her Department has put in place to provide support for Syrian refugees relocated in the UK under the vulnerable persons relocation scheme who do not speak English.

Richard Harrington: Local authorities provide those resettled under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme with a 12 month support package to assist with their integration, and this includes provision of English language tuition. This is being funded using Official Development Aid, and the Chancellor has now confirmed that the Government will provide additional funding to assist with costs incurred in years two to five of the scheme.

Asylum: Applications

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum applications were initially refused in each month in 2015 to date; and how many such applications were from individuals aged under 18.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office publishes data on asylum applications and decisions on a quarterly and annual basis.Statistics on the number of refusals at initial decision for asylum main applicants, for quarter 1 (January to March) 2015 to Q3 (July to September) 2015, are given in the table.Asylum applications and initial refusals for main applicants, 2015 Q1 to 2015 Q3 (1)Total refusalsOf which: applicant was aged under 182015 Q157441232015 Q235981042015 Q3399598(1) The information supplied on initially refused applications is based on initial decisions which do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period and exclude the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.The latest release, Immigration Statistics July – September 2015, was published on 26 November 2015 and is available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-july-to-september-2015

HM Treasury

Bank Services: Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross

Dr Paul Monaghan: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what correspondence the Government has had with the Bank of Scotland on implementation of the Access to Banking Protocol and the (a) closure of branches and (b) reduction of banking services in the Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross constituency.

Dr Paul Monaghan: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what correspondence the Government has had with Lloyds TSB on implementation of the Access to Banking Protocol and the (a) closure of branches and (b) reduction of banking services in the Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross constituency.

Dr Paul Monaghan: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what correspondence the Government has had with the Clydesdale Bank on implementation of the Access to Banking Protocol and the (a) closure of branches and (b) reduction of banking services in the Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross constituency.

Dr Paul Monaghan: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what correspondence the Government has had with the Royal Bank of Scotland on implementation of the Access to Banking Protocol and the (a) closure of branches and (b) reduction of banking services in the Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross constituency.

Harriett Baldwin: The Government welcomed the industry-wide Access to Banking protocol announced in March 2015. From the first of May this year, each participating bank has committed to carry out a number of steps if it is closing a branch. This includes establishing the impact of a branch closure before it takes place; finding suitable alternative provision; and putting in place suitable alternative measures before a branch is closed.There is a commitment to review the operation of the protocol after one year. In August, the Minister for Small Business, Industry and Enterprise and I wrote to the Chief Executive of the British Bankers’ Association and requested an update on progress towards the appointment of an independent reviewer. A copy of the letter was also sent to the Chief Executives of the banks that are signatories to the Access to Banking protocol.Banks and building societies need to balance customer interests, market competition, and other commercial factors when considering their strategy.Decisions on the opening and closing of individual bank branches are taken by the management of each bank on a commercial basis without intervention from Government.

Civil Servants: Welfare Tax Credits

Chris Stephens: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of employees in each Department are in receipt of tax credits; and if he will make a statement.

Damian Hinds: The information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Treasury: Public Expenditure

Paul Flynn: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish on his Department's website each of the representations his Department received on the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015.

Greg Hands: The Treasury received numerous representations ahead of the Spending Review and Autumn Statement. Some information, such as the results of the Public Sector Efficiency Challenge, has already been published on www.gov.uk. It would not be appropriate to publish the details of all stakeholder representations online, as to do so might deter future representations, undermine future consultations and impinge upon ongoing policy considerations. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-sector-efficiency-challenge-summary-of-responses-and-results

Insurance: Weather

Jim Shannon: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will discuss with representatives of the insurance industry the effect on premiums of changing weather conditions.

Harriett Baldwin: The Government does not intend to intervene in these commercial decisions by insurers as this could damage competition in the market. The respective capabilities of insurers to assess risk is a key element on which they compete. This competition is important and should lead to better products and lower prices for consumers.

Financial Services: Databases

Joan Ryan: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether record keeping regulations relating to financial services apply to organisations offering third party data storage to banks.

Harriett Baldwin: Authorised firms, such as banks, must be able to meet their regulatory requirements even when relying on a third party for the performance of operational functions. The firm must make available to the regulator all information necessary to ensure the regulator is able to supervise the compliance of the outsourced activities with the regulatory requirements, including those on record keeping.

Oil: Taxation

Angus Brendan MacNeil: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the relative competitiveness in terms of differentials in tax treatment of UK refiners and those importing petroleum products directly from European or international refiners and suppliers as opposed to internal imports in the UK.

Damian Hinds: I refer the Honourable Member to the answer given by my Honourable Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 16 November (PQ 14896 and 14897).

Air Passenger Duty: North East

Bridget Phillipson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 39 (d) of the North East Devolution Agreement, what representations he has received on north east Air Passenger Duty mitigation; and what steps he is considering to implement the commitment to protect Newcastle Airport from the impact of devolution of Air Passenger Duty to Scotland.

Damian Hinds: The government published a discussion paper at Summer Budget 2015 exploring three potential options to support English regional airports from the impacts of Air Passenger Duty devolution. We received a large number of responses, including from stakeholders in the North East. We will respond to the consultation in due course.

Revenue and Customs: Dundee

Chris Law: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reasons HM Revenue and Customs offices in Dundee are closing before those in the rest of the UK.

Chris Law: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the reasons are for the reduction in Grade 6 and 7 employees of HM Revenue and Customs in Dundee in the last decade.

Chris Law: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will introduce compensation for couples who both work in HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in Dundee in the event that they are transferred to a HMRC regional office in another location.

Chris Law: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the 130 HM Revenue and Customs staff at Caledonian House, Dundee will have a guaranteed job in the new regional HM Revenue and Customs centres in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Chris Law: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what redundancy packages will be offered to HM Revenue and Customs staff at Sidlaw House and Caledonian House in Dundee.

Chris Law: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HM Revenue and Customs staff at Sidlaw House, Dundee will have the same terms and conditions if they are transferred to the new regional centres.

Chris Law: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how will HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) operate in the time between closing HMRC centres in Dundee and opening new regional centres in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) announced the planned locations of its future Regional Centres based on a number of key principles. In addition to cost, HMRC has taken account of the quality of local transport links, the local labour market and future workforce supply, and the need to retain the staff and skills they need to continue their transformation. These changes will reduce HMRC’s estates costs by around £100 million a year by 2025.HMRC plans to open two new Regional Centres in Edinburgh and Glasgow, with a combined total of between 5,700 and 6,300 posts.In Dundee, Caledonian House is planned to close in 2018 and Sidlaw House will transfer to the administering of Universal Credit. HMRC will be holding individual meetings with every member of staff prior to any office closures or moves, to discuss what these plans mean for them and their choices.‎

Welfare Tax Credits

Frank Field: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many of the tax credit claims amended by Concentrix in 2014-15 resulted in a reduced tax credit award; and what the (a) smallest, (b) largest and (c) average value was of the reduction in such cases.

Mr David Gauke: 5,244 tax credit claims that were investigated by Concentrix in 2014-15 resulted in the award being amended. Not all amendments changed the value of the award to the claimant. For example recording a change to the claimant’s income is an amendment to the award that does not always change the amount of the award.There were 3,114 tax credit awards amended with a financial impact. The smallest amendment was £184, the largest amendment was £19,369 and the average reduction was £2,698.

Infrastructure

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department plans to publish an update of the National Infrastructure Plan and infrastructure pipeline before the end of 2015.

Greg Hands: The government will publish a National Infrastructure Delivery Plan next spring, setting out in detail how it will deliver key projects and programmes over the next 5 years. This will be underpinned by a refreshed National Infrastructure Pipeline.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Carbon Emissions

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change scenarios for keeping global temperatures below two degrees require (a) negative emissions technologies and (b) peaking of global emissions before (i) 2015 and (ii) 2020; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: Of the 204 emissions scenarios included in the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report database with climate model projections which are consistent with a more than 50% chance of keeping global warming below 2 °C by 2100:(a)177 of these include negative emissions technologies; and(b)noting that the scenarios do not consider emissions in 2015, but rather for each decade:(i) 111 of the scenarios require emissions to peak by 2010; and(ii) 46 additional scenarios require emissions to peak by 2020.The remainder either do not report total emissions (11) or peak after 2020. The general features of the scenarios in this database show that delaying strong action to reduce emissions would increase the risk of exceeding 2 °C of warming and associated impacts, and require deeper emissions cuts in the future and/or a heavier reliance on negative emissions technologies at scale. This is why the Department is seeking ambitious global action on climate change in Paris.

Solar Power: Northern Ireland

Danny Kinahan: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what change there has been in the number of jobs in the solar industry in Northern Ireland since January 2015.

Andrea Leadsom: The Size and Performance of the Low-carbon Economy (2015) report by the Department of Business, Innovation, and Skills estimated the number of low-carbon jobs in Northern Ireland in 2013.https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/416240/bis-15-206-size-and-performance-of-uk-low-carbon-economy.pdf

Department of Energy and Climate Change: Labour Mobility

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many civil servants in her Department are in the redeployment pool.

Andrea Leadsom: On 30 November 2015 there were 18 civil servants in the redeployment pool within the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Gas Fired Power Stations: Construction

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if she will make an assessment of the effect of replacing the UK's existing coal fired power stations through a combination of energy conservation, demand side measures and renewable power instead of new gas fired power stations on (a) job creation, (b) carbon emissions, (c) household energy bills, (d) long-term energy security and (e) the UK's global influence on securing international action on climate change; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department will be launching a consultation in the spring on the closure of unabated coal fired power stations. This will include an impact assessment, and I encourage the honourable lady to examine these documents when published next year

Renewable Energy

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the size of the (a) solar, (b) wind, (c) offshore wind and (d) renewable heat sector is; and by what proportion she plans for these sectors to grow in the next (i) five, (ii) 10 and (iii) 20 years; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: The latest available data on the size of the low carbon sectors is published in a BIS report on 'The size and performance of the UK low carbon economy’. The report contains estimates on turnover, Gross Value Added (GVA), number of firms and number of jobs supported by various low carbon sectors. These estimates are presented in Table 1 below.Table 1: Size of the solar, wind and renewable heat sectors in 2013 SectorNumber of firmsNumber of jobsTurnover (£m)Gross Value Added (£m) Solar2,40034,4008,4003300Wind50032,7009,8002,700Onshore30019,0006,3001,700Offshore20013,7003,5001,000Renewable heat2,30086,00037,60017,500Total5,200153,10055,80023,500Note: Renewable heat includes the following sectors: Energy generation from waste and biomass, biomass equipment, geothermal, heat pumps, solar thermal, heat networks and alternative fuels. Some categories also include activity not relating to renewable heat. Jobs, turnover and GVA include supply chain activity.Source: BIS (March 2015) “The Size and Performance of the UK Low Carbon Economy Future growth in these sectors will depend upon a number of factors, such as technological development and cost reduction.The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) budget to cover both domestic and non-domestic schemes has been confirmed to March 2021, with funding rising each year to £1.15bn in 2020/21. We believe that this is sufficient to heat the equivalent of 500,000 homes. We are planning to reform the RHI with a particular view to improve value for money, reduce cost and improve cost control.

Solar Power: Finance

Clive Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, when she plans to publish a response to her Department's consultation on changes to financial support for solar PV, published on 22 July 2015.

Andrea Leadsom: The Government proposed changes to the Renewables Obligation, on which we consulted between 22 July and 2 September. We intend to publish a Government Response as soon as possible.

Wind Power: Moray Firth

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps her Department has taken to ensure that supply chain contracts from the Beatrice offshore wind project will create jobs in the UK.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department, together with UKTI and BIS, work closely with the Beatrice offshore wind farm developer to ensure that UK companies are able to bid for contracts in an open and fair competition process to maximise the UK content in the wind farm.Offshore Wind Developers have committed to achieving their vision statement of providing over 50% UK content in UK offshore wind farms. There is an agreed industry standard methodology in place for the Industry to measure and record the UK content in each offshore wind farm. The industry publishes the anonymised and consolidated results to allow the sector and the public to track the sector’s progress towards fulfilling their vision.

Energy: Job Creation

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if she will make an estimate of the number of UK jobs that would be created if contracts in the energy sector supply chain were awarded to UK firms.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department for Energy and Climate Change has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Historic Buildings: Insulation

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what discussions her Department has had with the devolved assemblies on best practice on insulation of historic and other older properties.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department has regular discussions with its counterparts in the devolved administrations in order to ensure the sharing of best practice and ideas between all parts of the UK.

Cabinet Office

Big Lottery Fund: Northern Ireland

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much Big Lottery funding was provided to Northern Ireland in 2014; and how much such funding will be provided in (a) 2015 and (b) 2016.

Mr Rob Wilson: Information on grant expenditure broken down by country is available through the Funds's annual report and accounts:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/big-lottery-fund-annual-report-2014-to-2015The annual report and accounts for 2015/16 and 2016/17 will be published in due course.

Civil Servants: Job Satisfaction

Louise Haigh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the Minister's assessment is of morale in the civil service.

Matthew Hancock: Holding answer received on 01 December 2015



It is a tribute to the dedication and work of individual Civil Servants that job satisfaction remains high and wellbeing has increased. It should be a source of pride that the Civil Service has successfully changed the way it operates and become more efficient - it is now delivering far more, for less, than it did before 2010.

Charities: Northern Ireland

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive about comparative support between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK for charities for encouraging young people to get involved in social action.

Mr Rob Wilson: Officials from the Office for Civil Society have regular contact with their counterparts in Northern Ireland on a range of matters of mutual interest, including better charity regulation. I would personally welcome any further contact and future collaboration in driving forward our mutually important agenda.

Third Sector

Tommy Sheppard: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent progress has been made on the Big Society initiative.

Mr Rob Wilson: Holding answer received on 03 December 2015



The UK Government is committed to the Big Society and the increase of social action in communities. The Spending Review has seen this commitment reaffirmed byfunding 300,000 NCS places by 2020, ensuring that any young person who wants to participate is guaranteed a place, and an extra£80million to grow Social Investment. These initiatives are helping to empower people around the country to build more resilient communities and a stronger society for all. Civil Society and Communities policy are fully devolved in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Pay

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) full-time and (b) part-time employees earning less than £10,000 per annum.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Letter to Member - Earnings
(PDF Document, 229.38 KB)

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Economic Situation

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to consult (a) parliamentarians and (b) the public on her Department's 25 year plan for a healthy natural economy.

Rory Stewart: The Government is currently developing the framework that will guide the development of the 25 year environment plan, which will be published in early 2016. Over the course of 2016, supported by the Natural Capital Committee, we will be engaging with a wide range of interested parties and the public on the detailed content of the plan.

Great Bustards

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the programme to reintroduce the great bustard on Salisbury plain.

Rory Stewart: This project is run by the independent Great Bustard Group. I understand that by the end of 2016 there should be enough evidence available on the survival and dispersal of the birds to know whether the population on Salisbury Plain can successfully rear new birds to join the adult population.

Birds: Nature Conservation

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to protect bird species which are red-listed on the endangered species list.

Rory Stewart: Defra has classified 85 sites as Special Protection Areas (SPAs) in England under the EU Birds Directive to protect rare and vulnerable wild birds and regularly occurring migratory species. The UK is currently undertaking a review of the terrestrial and coastal network of UK SPAs, which will inform the need for any further SPA provision. The UK is also making good progress in identifying a number of SPAs in the marine environment to complete our UK network.These will be in addition to the existing 108 SPAs with marine components currently in place in the UK, providing protection for just over 11,500km2 of seabird habitat.Terrestrial SPAs are underpinned by Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). SSSIs are the country's very best wildlife and geological sites and many benefit birds. There are over 4,000 SSSIs in England covering around 8% of the country's land area.Over 95% of our SSSIs are in favourable or recovering condition. Duties on public bodies in relation to wild bird habitat are also relevant, as set out in regulation 9A of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010.In addition, Natural England is working with partner organisations through its Species Recovery Programme to secure the long term recovery of endangered birds and other species in England. Projects are in place for a range of birds on the red list including the turtle dove, corn bunting, curlew, corncrake, twite, willow tit, hawfinch and ring ouzel.We are investing more than £3 billion in environmental outcomes as part of the Rural Development Programme for England (2014-2020). Biodiversity is one of the main objectives in our agri-environment schemes, such as the new Countryside Stewardship scheme, to be funded under the Programme. The Wild Pollinator and Farm Wildlife Package options within the new scheme will be of particular benefit for farmland birds in the wider countryside, providing winter feeding, nesting sites and food for chicks through appropriate management of farmland habitats. Our schemes also target specific red-listed species such as the corn bunting, black grouse and turtle dove.The UK Government is a signatory to the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds, which aims to achieve coordinated conservation and management for migratory waterbirds. The UK, with other Parties, has developed action plans for endangered migratory waterbirds such as the curlew and long tailed duck.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Labour Mobility

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many civil servants in her Department are in the redeployment pool.

George Eustice: There are presently six Departmental staff awaiting redeployment.

Pet Travel Scheme

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many animals have entered the UK under the Pet Travel Scheme since that scheme's introduction.

George Eustice: Since 1 January 2012, when the United Kingdom harmonised with European Union rules for the non-commercial movement of pet animals the number that entered Great Britain under the EU Pet Travel Scheme on approved routes was 170,659 in 2014, 147,117 in 2013 and 134,655 in 2012.

Pet Travel Scheme

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent representations she has received on reforms to the Pet Travel Scheme to make it harder to smuggle animals into the UK.

George Eustice: Defra actively shares intelligence relating to abuse of the EU pet travel scheme. Evidence collected by the Animal and Plant Health Agency, Local Authorities and welfare organisations has led to investigations in other EU countries.The UK maintains effective border controls and all the relevant agencies work together to target people who systematically abuse the rules.The illegal trade is ultimately driven by demand. Defra have published guidance on buying a pet and have worked closely with the Pet Advertising Advisory Group to drive up standards for online advertisements.

Animals: Smuggling

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps are being taken at UK border ports to tackle the illegal smuggling of puppies and other animals into the UK.

George Eustice: Enforcement of the rules governing the importation of animals is the responsibility of Local Authorities. Effective enforcement relies on close co-operation between a number of different agencies and should be intelligence led. As regards the illegal smuggling of puppies, Local Authorities and other agencies carry out targeted interventions at the border. To help build on this, Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency are considering what steps can be taken to improve enforcement and is being assisted by the Dogs Trust and RSCPA in this work.Defra is also working closely with Border Force to agree a framework for co-operation to ensure the effective enforcement of legislation governing the import of animals, including puppies.

Flood Control

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to paragraph 2.150 of the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015, how many of the additional homes to be protected from flooding are classified as at (a) very high, (b) high, (c) moderate, (d) low and (e) very low risk of flooding; and what estimate she has made of the number of such homes that will be in each such category after the completion of work to protect them from flooding.

Rory Stewart: The £2.3 billion 6-year capital investment programme will better protect over 300,000 homes and will move around 170,000 households from either ‘very significant’ or ‘significant’ flood probability category to the ‘moderate’ or ‘low’ probability category.

National Wildlife Crime Unit

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what timetable she proposes for deciding on the funding allocation to the National Wildlife Crime Unit from March 2016.

Rory Stewart: The Government has committed to providing funding to help secure the National Wildlife Crime Unit until at least the end of March next year.With the Spending Review concluded, Defra is now looking at what this settlement means in terms of the detailed allocation of its budgets. Ministers will be making decisions about the funding of the NWCU beyond March as part of this process and will confirm the funding position as soon as possible in the new year.

Department of Health

Pericarditis: Drugs

Mr Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information his Department holds on the efficacy of anakinra for patients diagnosed with idiopathic recurrent pericarditis; and what the (a) target, (b) average and (c) longest time taken to approve that drug for use was in the last 12 months for which data is available.

George Freeman: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) does not hold information concerning the efficacy of anakinra for patients diagnosed with idiopathic recurrent pericarditis.Kineret, containing the active substance anakinra, was approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in 2002 for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in adults. The licence was extended to include treatment of Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes. Anakinra is not licensed to treat idiopathic recurrent pericarditis.The EMA is required to issue an opinion on applications for new indications within 90 days of receipt of a valid application. This period will be extended if it needs to request supplementary information from the applicant. The applicant will be requested to provide supplementary information within one month, although this may be extended to two months. The assessment of any supplementary information by EMA should be completed within 60 days. The European Commission is required to amend the marketing authorisation within two months of the EMA opinion.The MHRA does not hold information on average and longest time for approval of variations by EMA.

Cancer: Drugs

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what type of drugs were financed by the Cancer Drugs Fund in each year since 2011.

George Freeman: The Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) has helped over 84,000 people in England to access life-extending cancer drugs that would not otherwise have been available to them.Prior to April 2013, the Fund was administered through clinical panels based in each of the 10 strategic health authorities (SHAs). Cumulative information on the number of different treatments financed by SHAs through the CDF for this period is as follows:2011-12: approximately 89 treatments12012-13: approximately 114 treatments11Information on the type of cancer being treated was not collectedSource: Information provided to the Department by SHAs as part of financial monitoring arrangementsSince April 2013, NHS England has had responsibility for the Fund and it publishes information on CDF activity routinely on its website at:www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/pe/cdf/The National Audit Office report, Investigation into the Cancer Drugs Fund, details the number of treatments available through the national CDF list from April 2013 as follows:April 2013: 24 treatments covering 53 indicationsApril 2014: 40 treatments covering 78 indicationsApril 2015: 39 treatments covering 67 indicationsSource: National Audit Office report Investigation into the Cancer Drugs Fund, published 17 September 2015Decisions on which treatments are included on the national CDF list are made by the expert CDF clinical panel because it is right these decisions are clinically led. NHS England periodically reviews the national CDF list, adding new drugs or drugs indications to the list and/or removing drug indications from the list, for example when the indications have been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for routine commissioning. Currently, 33 treatments covering 47 indications are listed.

Sexual Offences

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish the recent review into pathways for victims of sexual assault; and if he will make a statement.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many sexual assault referral centres offer therapeutic services for (a) adults and (b) children under 18.

Jane Ellison: The independent review of pathways for victims of sexual assault was commissioned by NHS England. Work on next steps, including production of a summary report, is ongoing.Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) service models vary from area to area, dependant on the commissioning decisions taken by police and Police and Crime Commissioners in partnership with their NHS England commissioners. Data on the numbers of SARCs offering therapeutic services is not collected centrally.

Psychiatry

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 30 November to Question 17518, what steps he plans to take to increase the course completion rate for people who are referred to the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme.

Alistair Burt: We are working closely with NHS England on all issues related to the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme, which includes reducing dropout rates. The Department is currently in conversation with NHS England to determine the causes of dropouts.The table in answer to Question 17518 includes all referrals who did not finish a course of treatment, this would include those that drop out but also includes those who do not complete treatment for other reasons including those who were not suitable for IAPT treatment, those who are moved or referred elsewhere and those that declined the offer of treatment.

Obesity

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the obesity rate is for (a) adults and (b) children under the age of 16; and what forecast the Government has made of such rates in 2020.

Jane Ellison: Data published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre in December 2014 showed that in England in 2013 24.9% of adults and 15.2% of children aged from two to 15 years were obese. New data will be published later this month.The UK Health Forum modelled adult obesity prevalence, ‘Risk factor based modelling for Public Health England’ (2014), and estimated 30% of adults aged 18-100 would be obese by 2020. This was based on Health Survey for England data from 2000 to 2010 and assumes trends continue.No assessment has been carried out on the likely level of child obesity in 2020 specifically. However, predictions for rates up to 2050 were modelled for both adults and children in the Government's Foresight report: “Tackling Obesities: Future Choices” (2007) using data from 1994-2004. This modelling suggested that by 2025, 21% of boys aged 6-10 years and 11% of boys aged 11-15 years were predicted to be obese. For girls 6-10 years and 11-15 years, 14% and 22% respectively were predicted to be obese. These predictions assumed that the 1994-2004 trends continued and that no interventions successfully changed the direction of these trends.

Care Homes

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Oral Answer of 17 November 2015, Official Report, column 515, on non-hospital care, on what date he commissioned Paul Johnson of the Institute for Fiscal Studies to examine pressures in the care home sector; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: Paul Johnson has not been commissioned to examine pressures in the care home sector, nor are there any plans to commission him or the Institute for Fiscal Studies to undertake such a review.

Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Vaccine Damage Payment scheme.

Jane Ellison: Policy responsibility for the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme transferred to the Department of Health from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in May 2014 although DWP continues to administer this scheme. The scheme was last revised in 2007 and no assessment of effectiveness has been made since that date.

Women and Equalities

Government Equalities Office: Domestic Visits

Mr Mark Hendrick: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, when she has visited (a) women's refugee shelters, (b) maternity units, (c) ante-natal groups and (d) women's groups since 15 July 2014.

Caroline Dinenage: Since taking office as the Minister for Women and Equalities in May 2015, I have visited a variety of organisations, including:30% ClubEverywomanMinerva Women’s CentreRights of WomenThe Equality and Diversity ForumWeAreTheCityWomen’s Business CouncilWomen’s Private Equity NetworkI have also hosted a number of meetings within my department with women’s organisations. These will be published online at www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministers-quarterly-returns-2015 as part of the quarterly returns.